Conveyer mechanism



Nov. 23, 1937.- R. w. IRWIN Er AL CONVEYER MECHANISM INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 19,

.mw n. WH .M A w dw, v@dw wm Kww @W Nov. 23, 1937. R. w. |Rw|N ET AL 2,100,253

CONVEYER MECHANI SM Filed June 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 H l i ll' o o l d o o INVENTOR. i 15 Kobe/f l/V /fw/H Come/fu; /1//'. Herz Patented Nov. 23, 1937 2,100,253 CONVEYER BIECHANISM Robert W. Irwin and Cornelius M. Herz,

vGrand Rapids, Mich.

Application June 19,

7 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide such a kiln with an improved conveyer means.

2. To provide a simplified endless carrier for such kilns.

5 3. To provide for the gradual advance of articles of furniture through such a kiln and the automatic discharge Objects pertaining construction follow:

We accomplish ,the

thereof from the kiln.

to details and economies of will appear from the description to objects of our invention by Which, 15

tional elevation in Fig. 1 is a reduced vertical longitudinal secbroken section of our improved kiln and mechanism in operation,

Fig. 2 is an enlarge d detail Itransverse end elevation partly in section on line 2-2 of Fig 1 end of the shaft bein the driving mechanism being omitted and the g shown broken off and the end curtain being omitted.

'Fig 3 is an enlarged detail of aV fragment of the endless chain and pusher bar connection,

lconstituting an important part of our invention.

'Fig 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View of line 4 4 0f Fig. 1

showing the detailsof the carrier chain and the channel iron supports and guides therefor and the pusher bar to the Fig. 5 is a detailed the driving chain. y perspective View of one of the pusher bars and its drive connections in broken section.

Fig. 6 is a detailed 35 perspective View of the discharge end of the kiln showing the lower end of the flexible curtain, suspended therefrom and the discharge' platform.

Fig. 7 is a detailed fragment sectional view on line l-l of Fig. 2 showing the relation of one of .the endless sprocket the sprocket wheel connects it at the The parts will Athe drive connections of the push bar to one of chains and the relation of which throws it out and disdischarge end of the kiln.

be identified by their numerals of reference which are the same in al1 the views.

I is the foundation on which the kiln is disposed Which maybe 2 is the floor of the the foundation and is platform and at il to from Vthe kiln. roof of the kiln. The curtain Q vat the intak tain I0 supported at i5 of the kiln. The no a concrete oor or the like. kiln, Which is disposed on tapered at 3 for the intake form the delivery platform Ii-l are the side walls and 8 the kiln is provided with a roll e end and with flexible cur- II above the discharge end or 2 of the kiln is smooth connection forV 1936, Serial N0. 86,104 (Cl. 198-175) throughout the whole length and Width and receives a truck I2, which may be loaded with articles of furniture or runners or skids I3, which slide over the floor and carry such articles of furniture as chairs, tables, or any legged furniture, or anything to be dried. These are advanced over the floor and through the kiln by a series of push bars 20. Endless sprocket chains Ill are disposed at each side of the floor 2 of the kiln. These travel from the intake end of the kiln to the discharge end, and are then deiiected around sprocket wheels I5 at each end and the under run of the chain is carried beneath the upper run above the foundation and opposite the floor of the kiln. The upper run of the chain I6, which carries the goods forward, and the lower run Il is the return. The upper run is in the channel l 8, which extends above the level of the floor 2, there being a channel at each side. I9 is Athe channel for the lower run I'l of the chain and is disposed directly beneath the channel I8 so that the runs of the endless chain along the length of the kiln occupy very little space. Between the upper runs of the chain at each side are the detachable push bars 20. These extend Itransversely across the floor 2 and are carried by the parallel upper runs I6 of the sprocket chain These are supported in a level position by rearward extension 23 and forward extension 24 in each instance.

The kiln is provided with steam heating pipes 25 and may be ventilated beyond what is accomplished by the end curtains if required. This chain is driven by electric motor 26, with reduction gear 2l' at a very low rate of speed so that with a kiln 60 long it is possible to regulate it from forty minutes to three hours, depending upon the length of time necessary to dry the material that is passed through it.

In operation the attendant opens the roll curtain 9 and introduces ahead of the rearmost pusher bar 29, either the truck I2 or the skids I3 bearing freshly sprayed or painted furniture or merchandise to be dried within the kiln. This is advanced gradually, the reduction gear of the motor being adjusted accordingly so that the required time within the kiln is consumed by the travel of the carrier chains. When the pusher bar has carried the truck or skids out of the kiln beyond the exible curtain I0, the teeth on the sprocket wheel raises the lugs or teeth (22) of the connection from the chain to the pusher bar out of engagement with the sprocket chain and the push bar is discharged and released at the discharge end of the kiln.

If the attendant is not there, ready to take the dried or treated goods, no harm is done because the movement is very slow and it will be some time before the next article in the series will be pushed out of the kiln.

This enables one force of attendants to operate the kiln continuously. They can introduce goods at the intake end and because of the slow movement of the kiln they can go and remove the goods that are discharged and will have time to return to the intake end of the kiln and place fresh goods in position ready to pass.

We have shown our kiln specially adapted to the drying of furniture. It is adapted to agreat variety of uses and can be regulated accordingly. Where furniture is provided with casters or is Very freely movable, it is, of course, unnecessary to provide skids or trucks to carry it.

The conveyer is also adaptable to various uses.

We desire to claim the invention specifically in the particular form and broadly as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A kiln with smooth flat iioor from end to end, movable support adapted to travel said floor and carry articles to be dried, channel guides at each side thereof, endless sprocket chains running over sprocket wheels at each end, the upper runs of which travel in said guides, removable push bars with detachable attaching brackets at each end, each having a square projecting tooth adapted to engage between the links of the sprocket chains at each side and adapted to be pushed from said engagement by the sprocket wheels at the end or" the run, whereby the push bars are released by the sprocket Wheels after completing the travel cf the kiln, a guide channel disposed under the first mentioned channel for the return run of the chain disposed'upon the foundation upon the first run of the channel.

2. A kiln with smooth flat iioor from end to end, movable support adapted to travel said floor and carry articles to be dried, channel guides at each side thereof, endless sprocket chains running over sprocket wheels at each end, the upper runs of which travel in said guides, removable push bars with detachable attaching brackets at each end, each having a square projecting tooth adapted to engage between the links of the sprocket chains at each side and adapted to be pushed from said engagement by the sprocket Wheels at the end of the run, whereby the push bars are released by the sprocket wheels after completing the travel of the kiln.

3. A kiln with smooth flat floor from end to end, channel guides at each side thereof, endless sprocket chains running over sprocket wheels at each end, the upper runs of which travel in said guides, removable push bars with detachable attaching brackets at each end, each having a projecting tooth adapted to engage between the links of the sprocket chains at each side and adapted to be pushed from said engagement by the sprocket wheels at the end of the run, whereby the push bars are released by the sprocket wheels after completing the travel of the kiln.

4. A kiln with smooth flat floor from end to end, endless sprocket chains running over sprocket wheels at each end, the upper runs of which travel, removable push bars with detachable attaching brackets at each end, each having a projecting tooth adapted to engage between the links'of the sprocket chains at each side and adapted to be pushed from said engagement by the sprocket wheels at the end of the run, whereby the push bars are released by the sprocket wheels after completing the travel of the kiln.

5. A conveyer consisting of endless parallel sprocket chains with sprocket wheels supporting the same, detachable push bars, the ends of which each have a tooth adapted to engage between the links of one of said chains and be carried thereby and be discharged and released at the discharge end of said conveyer by the sprocket.

6. A kiln having a smooth floor along which the articles tobe treated in the kiln are moved extending from end to end thereof, endless chains running at each side of said floor, the upper runs of said chains extending from the intake to the discharge end of the kiln, detachable push bars extending between said chains and across said. floor to engage and push the articles to be treated in the kiln along the floor, the ends of the bars having means thereon to engage said chains in such a manner that the bars will serve as push bars to move the articles along the floor, and means to engage said bars and disengage them from the chains at the discharge end of the upper run of the chains.

7. A kiln having a smooth oor along which the articles to be treated in the kiln are moved extending from end to end thereof, an endless chain running alongside of said floor, the upper run of said chain extending from the intake to the discharge end of the kiln, detachable push bars extending across said floor to engage and push the articles to be treated in the kiln along the oor, the ends of the bars having means thereon to engage said chain in such a manner that the bars will serve as push bars to move the articles along the door, and means to engage said bars and disengage them from the chain at the discharge end of the upper run of the chain.

ROBERT W. IRW'IN. CORNELIUS M. HERZ. 

